The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1887-10-02
THEY PREFER DEATH TO slAnERE
A Big African Tribe that Shut Themselve,
Up On their Mountains.

A Big African Tribe that Shut Themselves
Up On their Mountains.
Every now and then some missionary or
explorer In Africa reports the discovery Of
some interesting tribe that has never been
heard Of before. Though Africa hos now been
overrun In all directions, there are extensive
regions between the tracks Of travellers that
are still unknown. and remarkable informa-
ton often rewards the first white man who
visited them. Father Josef, o Catholic mis-
sionary who lives west Of Lake Tanganyika,
has just sent homo an account Of an interest
ing people OF whom Livingstone. Cameron.
Stanley, Thomson, and other travellers never
heard, though they oil, doubtless. saw the
mountains on which this tribe have made
The Wa Bembe, Father Josef says, inhabit q
chain Of mountains some distance west OF the
great Lake TanGanyika. The country around
never met them. It hos been their CELEBRATE
as9a All sSs at n poss
been successfully carried out: .,,,. o,,
p mountains they iShsSis, They sternIy for-
Whom they have become we'll acquainted with
individuals OF other tribes they permit their
visits. but they allow no party Of men to ascend
do With natives whom they suspect Of holding
relations with the Arabs or with the Waug-
S st h asyS ssse 70 sss
ture Of the soil, and their mountains are the
granary OF tho northwest coast Of the lake.
ehsaas tn
sses S so Thfn n as x:
rIesch the stations at nightfalI, and IS soon as
trace their stops to their mountain homes.
nsxs u
Y must M not be- thought that the -Bembe
IN ans Fssp
q III ' aGEsb s
arc determined TO die rather than be enslayed.
and in their mountain fastnesses thoy are able
70 fssap fpes and IndependePt TSsS
bitterly hate an Mohammedans, and want all
persons Of that faith TO let them severely alone.
theless. and they Would like to be able to move
more freely around the country.
Fahsr Sosset s &sssea station '1s wead
Ike" said he. "to be tho children OF the whites
The situation In which we live Is very IN
the hoe In one hand and the spear In the other,
their notlvo friends 10 lot uS alOne tno present
situation would cease. We would thon work
In our fields without fear, and we would gladly
supply our white friends and their children
with food. We would bring you, not as to-day.
little bundles Of food that children can carry.
S SSs Hf al. l4adS under whose weight even mon
The. missionaries told the chief that they
looked upon the Wa Bembe as their children.
and that they would at the first opportunity
intercede with the Arabs In their behalf. 1t is
to be feared that they will not be able to mako
much impression upon the cruel slave drivers,
who Kill without mercy oil the natives who OPP
Father Josset says the a-Bembe arc nu-
InerouB people. and the mountains where they
dwell fairly swarm with human beings. A ma
tive whom the missionaries sent to the noun
tain homes OF this people returned with the
statement that men were as thick on the noun;
tain slopes as blades Of grass on the plain, and
that some OF their villages along the ridges
were throo miles IN length.
Here Is tribe that at one OF tho very head
fountains OF the Arab slave trade have main
tainod the spirit OF froemen. They have kept
arms In their hands, determined to resist TO
the bitter end oil attempts to reduce them TO
bondage, Their courage and the natural
stronghold which they defend have made
them formidable. and In the pure air OF their
mountain homes they are multiplying and
While The tribes around them
AWAY